The internet is a wonderful thing. It has provided us with an endless database of digital information including articles, photos, and videos that are accessible with great ease. I found a presentation on YouTube the other day and it is fascinating. The piece was produced by Titan Radio News in December of 2008 as a tool to highlight the long and wonderful career of State Senator Bob Robbins. In the interview, you get an opportunity to find out exactly how Senator Robbins found his way into the State Government. I invite you to listen to the interview (or click below) and hear (in Senator Robbin’s own voice) as he admits his “accidental fall into” government after the political re-districting of the area.
Senator Robbins says “you’d rather be lucky than good”
To quote Senator Robbins:
“By the time they got done with drawing the new districts I was setting in the middle of a brand new district that didn’t have a Representative. So, within 6 months I got to run again, basically for a house seat. As it worked out as I tell a lot of people . . . ‘sometimes you’d rather be lucky than good . . . other times is that you’ve got to be in the right place at the right time’.”
Never does Senator Robbins say that he deserved the seat in the House of Representatives because of his dedication to the needs of the people, and he never stated that he was selected because he was the best candidate for the job. Instead, Senator Robbins admits that he was “lucky” and he was “in the right place at the right time”. If it weren’t so sad, it would almost be funny.
The Back Door Politics Continue
The most bothersome part of his statement is that it defines politics of the past in our area. If the “sliding through the back door” approach to public office seems familiar, you know your stuff. In 2006 a similar back door approach allowed Representative Michele Brooks to fall into her spot in the same district (the 17th) when she was selected to replace former State Representative Rod Wilt as the Republican nominee. Again, it was another example of “it was better to be lucky than good”, and Ms. Brooks seemed to be “in the right place at the right time”. It makes you wonder if the trend is as accidental as it appears.
Knowing what we know about “business as usual in area politics” and realizing how the good ol’ boys (and girls) prefer to control “who gets lucky”, it is interesting to think through the thought process of political strategy in our area. Let us use this year as an example as we examine a possibility . . .
Is 2010 another Back Door Deal year?
If the Mercer GOP and their political friends were to use the “better to be lucky than good” strategy again, what sort of conservations would they be having in 2010.
As many of you know, at the beginning of 2010 it looked as though State Senator Robbins and State Representative Brooks would be running unopposed through the General Election in November. Unfortunately for the Senator, an Independent candidate* has stepped up to challenge Senator Robbins and the fate of Representative Brooks is still unknown. The Senator was probably hoping to rebound from his close race of 2006 (where he LOST his home county of Mercer by the way), and was planning on going out on a high note. At the point that he realized that he will now have an opponent, and that opponent will most probably expose all of the ugly truths about the Senator and his past, has the Senator started to consider ways to avoid an ugly loss? Could he be looking for ways to slide out on a “high”? Is it possible that a hand-off is in the works for 2010? Could Senator Robbins be planning to step down (before the dirt from his past begins to resurface) and allow Representative Brooks to step up and access the Senate seat through another backdoor deal?
This past weekend, Representative Brooks was spotted promoting herself at a local TEA Party [read the story HERE] including the distribution of yard signs (of all things), but Senator Robbins was no where to be seen? Who exactly is Representative Brooks running against that she feels a need to distribute yard signs? Why was it so necessary for her to bully her way onto the stage at Saturday’s event? Who is her opponent this year? Is it possible that her opponent is going to be an Independent* that is running for State Senate? Hmmmmm. Wouldn’t that be interesting?
Is it possible that Senator Robbins knows that the political climate in 2010 will make it extremely difficult (if not impossible) for him to win re-election in November. Is he fearful of going down in flames . . . and thus tarnishing his long career forever? Would he prefer to leave on a high note and pass the challenge onto his young enough and smart enough protégé? Is Representative Brooks desperate enough to take on the challenge? Is she willing to take yet another backroom deal in an effort to slide into higher office?
* - For those of you that are not aware of the details, the “Independent Candidate” is me, Roberta Biros, political analyst and editor of Mercer County Conservatives.
Brooks vs. Biros?
I’d love to be a fly on the wall for the conversations that have already transpired in the past several weeks. Time will tell, and I can’t wait to see the results. While “the Independent candidate for State Senate” (Roberta Biros) had no intention of taking on Representative Brooks head on, I know that the same “Independent candidate” has no intention of backing off from the challenge if Ms. Brooks decides to offer it.
If Representative Brooks takes “the deal”, she will again demonstrate that she is not part of the solution . . . but is very clearly part of the problem in area politics. I look forward to accepting that challenge any day of the week.
It would be the perfect opportunity to prove Robbins and Brooks wrong and to demonstrate that some of us believe that “It is better to be good than to be lucky!”.
As always, just my opinion (but if it happens, realize that you heard it here first).
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Do you think they would be that stupid to try another hand off to Brooks? Wasn't one enough?
ReplyDeleteFirst, I'll repeat the words of a very wise friend of mine. He told me well over a year ago, "these are not smart people". They are not driven by intellect, they are driven by greed, power, and selfishness.
ReplyDeleteBrooks will claim that the first "hand off" didn't happen, but I'll bet my bottom dollar that she wouldn't hesitate to wrap her arms around a second one. If she does, she will end the age old question once and for all . . . we'll all know that she did it the first time around too . . . and don't think the people have forgotten about it. I heard about it repeatedly on the campaign trail last year, and it has been brought up numerous times already this year.
If it happens, no one would be shocked, but they will be ticked. We'll just wait and see what happens in the coming weeks.
Why would Brooks leave a cushy spot when she is already gonna win her election with no opponent?
ReplyDeleteIf she takes the bait, it will be for a few different reasons. First, the appeal of running only every 4 years instead of 2 would be a big deal. Most important, though is the power. Like I said to Anonymous #1, "they are driven by greed, power, and selfishness" . . . Michele Brooks is no different. She is one of them.
ReplyDeleteRobbins is a chicken sheeeet if he runs away from this race.if he drops out it will be because he knows he'll loose.I dont think brookes has the votes to win. she'd never win the valley.
ReplyDeleteThis is just a theory, of course, but I see some odd indicators that are pointing in that direction. You'd think that Senator Robbins would stick it out, but if he's examined the numbers he may have seen some things that caused him concern.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Representative Brooks taking the opportunity, it is true that the 50th Senatorial District is a little different than her 17th District. She hasn't needed to concentrate on Grove City or the Valley in years, and she is not well liked west of Rt. 58. It wouldn't be an easy race for her, but I'll admit that we would be equally challenged.
Roberta: One of the main reasons that I left the Republican party is because of the absurd insider politics that allowed Wilt to be replaced--beyond closed doors and without input from Republican voters, no less--with a failed and unpopular county commissioner in Brooks.
ReplyDeleteOf course you are preparing to run against Robbins. But from your viewpoint, wouldn't it be just as easy--and perhaps easier--to take apart Michele Brooks and her shoddy record as both a county commissioner and a state rep?
Thanks for joining in on conversation Jason.
ReplyDeleteThere was a time that I had a great deal of respect for Michele Brooks, but given enough time and enough rope she eventually hangs herself (as she did in my case). The thing about stretching the truth (read “lies”) is that you forget how to cover your tracks, and that has happened to Ms. Brooks.
There were multiple parts to the Brooks / Wilt Hand-off. I wrote a story about it about a year and a half ago, but I realize that the story was incomplete. Michele Brooks eventually was selected as Wilt’s replacement (fair and square) and she won her election, but it was HOW she got there and how she was propped up that was never discussed. She insisted that there was never a “plan” in place for the hand off to happen, but after getting to know the parties involved a little more I have to doubt the validity of her statements. There was a plan . . . she was their “gal” . . . the opportunity was set for her to walk in . . . and they (the Robbins/Richardson GOP) guaranteed her a seat at the table. She made a deal with the Devil (so to speak), and in doing so promised to be a tool in their toolbox.
I openly challenge Michele Brooks to discuss the matter with me and I’ll listen fairly, but I’d fall over if she accepted the offer.
My original plan was to run against Robbins. He clearly needs to go. He’s been in too long, has stood for all the wrong things, and he is an ineffective leader. If you look at his results from the 2006 election against Art Allen, you’ll find that he BARELY won. He lost Mercer County (his home County) and only managed to hang on with conservative voters in Crawford County. A quick review of the numbers shows that Robbins will be in trouble this year (although I realize that you disagree with my calculations). HE is STILL my opponent at this point.
If, however, this hand off occurs, I’m fully prepared to take on Michele Brooks head on. At the point that she accepts the “hand off”, she proves that the Wilt hand off was not a misunderstanding. She will admit that she has been riding on the coat-tails of backroom politics and the voters WILL remember all of it. She will paint a gigantic target on her back, and the political scheming and deal making will be too obvious to miss.
A Biros v. Robbins race will be a different race than Biros v. Brooks, but both races are winnable by an Independent in 2010 because both Robbins and Brooks have heavy baggage, and both have obvious weaknesses. I’m willing to run against either . . . or BOTH for that matter. If the hand off happens, it will be clearer than ever that both Robbins and Brooks are part of the problem. They are NOT part of the solution.
So I wanted to make a few comments here about the Robbins-Richardson cabal and two of the many incidents that so turned me off to their insider politics. (I may be preaching to the choir here with Roberta but to others this is likely new information).
ReplyDelete-At the Grove City Historical Society dinner a few years ago--which is supposed to be a non-partisan, community-based event--Cindy Robbins and Walt Richardson, then running together for state committee came in and, without permission from anyone in the historical society, threw their campaign literature all over the dining tables. Their respective spouses were there, too. Although the historical society dinner is a fundraiser and an annual event, the Robbins and the Richardsons haven't been back since. Guess they haven't needed the votes since, or didn't want to spend the 50 bucks each, or both. Nice.
-When I was running for Grove City school board in 2005, I stopped at the polls at the Armory. Walter Richardson approached. I asked for his vote, and handed him my flyer, which detailed the many tax increases that the current school board members had voted for. "There's nothing new about that," Richardson scoffed and then he--quite literally--pushed my flyer into my chest, and walked in to vote. A Republican who won't at least consider voting for lower taxes? Who wouldn't have a conversation with a candidate who, on principle, didn't even cross-register as a Democrat? Richardson seemed preposterous to me from that point on.
Steese-Richardson, Walter Richardson, Bob and Cindy Robbins: all about politics, never about policy, ideas, (or even ideals). Almost makes me wish George Pokrant was in charge instead. And that's saying something.
Now I might take heat on this from my friends in the GC Area Democrats group. But that is ok. I had people telling me to vote for Steese-Richardson over Roberta Biros. Why? Because these people were "friends" with Ginny. She has no ideas, I said, she doesn't really deserve the position. But she's our friend, I was told.
I voted Biros.
I am certainly the choir in this case, but it is good to share our experiences with everyone else out there that has not had the first hand opportunities (like us).
ReplyDeleteRobbins/Richardson/King Inc. (a.k.a. R/R/K) are focused on one thing, and that is the continued control of R/R/K in Mercer County. They micro manage every movement of every person in the Mercer GOP committee / politics / and government. R/R/K and their followers don’t pick candidates in a race because of qualifications or platforms or lower taxes or real issues, they pick candidates based on loyalty to R/R/K. They make sure that new faces can’t and DON’T get involved, and they make certain that old “friends” remain in up to their eyebrows for backup.
Michele Brooks is a perfect example. She made deals to get where she is. Then she pretended to place herself outside of that circle (in an effort to achieve some “innocent girl next door” image), but her attempts are failing as her history is catching up with her. She attempted to walk a fine line last year as a non-biased observer on the sidelines of the Treasurer’s race. All the time her own taxpayer paid legislative assistant worked for the Steese-Richardson campaign (does anyone see a conflict of interest and a misuse of taxpayer money there?). When it came down to it Michele Brooks was squarely behind Steese-Richardson and company (R/R/K). In her own words “they have been my friends for a LONG TIME” . . . which translated into “I owe them BIG” and it was time for pay back.
People backed Steese-Richardson last year because they were “friends” with Ginny (or Walter, or Bob, or Cindy, or Michele, or Guy, or etc. etc. etc. . . . the list goes on). Not ONE person voted for Ginny because they thought she was the best person for the job. The good news is that the more that they are exposed, the more that people are seeing them for what they are . . . a controlling and self-serving private club.
Something that I think we agree on, Jason, is . . .
IF political races in our area become an issue of policy rather than politics, these people (as entrenched as they are) will ALL lose . . . and they will lose handily.
R/R/K and friends have NOTHING to do with good government, and they exemplify everything that is wrong with the system. It's plain and simple.
The campaign literature of robbins and richardson that mr reeher refers to as being pushed at the grove cith function was paid for by bob asher pac fund...asher was convicted of fraud and served a year in jail...brought back to the gop by tom ridge. The robbins richardsons did not pay for their lousy state comm campaign...$3000. I outed them on my blog and the robbins tried to repair the damage by saying they paid back the money. these are despicable people and most who discover their modus operandi RUN in the opposite direction. BTW walter sleeps during sc meetings and asks idiotic questions such as which box to check on a ballot. I have plenty of anecdotal info on the mercer gop due out on paperback any day now. Helen forsythe kirk former mercer gop supporter and state comm for 2 years...complete waste of my time and thousands of $..
ReplyDeleteTo Helen Forsythe Kirk (former GOP supporter and State Comm for 2 years):
ReplyDeleteHi friend. I wondered when you might join in on this conversation.
I knew you could offer some clarification on the R/R/K “stuff” (from personal experience, of course). If anyone could offer the insider scoop, it would be you!
I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the general points that I’ve outlined in this post . . .
1) Robbins admission that he was “lucky and not good” and in the “right place at the right time” (a great find on YouTube, don’t you think?)
2) Robbins potentially jumping ship (for fear of Losing with a cap L)
3) Brooks potentially taking the hand off (and making it a Brooks v. Biros race . . . I bet you never saw that one coming!)
4) AND an unmentioned bonus topic of “who would be picked to replace Brooks” (my thought is one former county commissioner turned Greenville councilman with sickeningly tight ties to R/R/K)
Do you care to jump into the discussions with both feet old friend?
I follow your blog of course and enjoy the various comments...here are some thoughts about your points.
ReplyDelete1) Robbins made a public admission (yes, great find on youtube) that he doesn't have what it takes and he knows it. Once he got in power, he jealously guarded it because he was keenly aware that the same laws of chance could easily work the other way.
2) Robbins will never jump ship. He realizes that he has a tremendous advantage by being "The Senator" and has a warchest and supporters who have been with him for years. There is the Cindy factor too...Bob's version of an artillery barage.
3) see #2, not going to happen, and Bob doesn't even like Brooks, they just happen to be serving under the same Incumbent Flag.
4) see #2 and #3, although it would be advantageous for the Councilman since he would run in a district with less scrutiny (highly favorable district for GOP) than the county where he has already fouled his own nest. Despite this fouling, Ginny Richardson has insisted that the Councilman will be back in the courthouse.
HFK
Good and honest points . . . one and all. Thank you for your feedback and comments.
ReplyDeleteI would love nothing more than Robbins to stay in the race. He is a particularly easy target. If the "warning signs" that I've seen do NOT mean that Brooks is moving in for the kill, then in only means that she will be aligning herself very squarely with "Sugar Daddy Bob". She is making her alliance known early I suppose.
We'll see what happens in the coming weeks.
Everyone would win if Robbins would drop out of the race. His actions, and those of his minions, are harmful in unimaginable ways. Anyone who aligns herself/himself with him is a fool.
ReplyDeleteHas Brooks conveniently forgotten that Robbins stopped any discussion of some possible problems with the Mercer Young Republicans back in 2007, including his (Robbins) fashioning a document for the elderly vice-chairs to sign to boycott any meeting about the YR's? Weeks later, one of the founders of the Mercer YRs was accidentally discovered by an Ohio television viewer to be a Class III sex offender who had been crossing from Ohio to PA to do "volunteer" work with children and youth.
This volunteer/sex offender was a strong supporter of Richardson/Robbins and they promoted and protected him. When some of the Mercer GOP members attempted to ask questions, they were shut down.
Oh yes . . . more from the dark and bothersome past of R/R/K. These are stories that I've heard bits and pieces of before, and it doesn't shock me that they would resurface again. Now that Senator Robbins is back in the limelight (with a re-election campaign and all), it is only fair that his past would also share that limelight.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that Brooks has not forgotten the dirty secrets. Instead, she chooses to move forward with her eyes wide shut. She will have difficulty escaping the references this year whether she moves forward (as I predict) or if she remains as part of the support system for Robbins.
They are a tight and cozy little family so as to help to hide the laundry list of family secrets.
FYI, I received in the mail today a flyer from Bob Robbins. The piece asks for Democrats to write in his name.
ReplyDeleteNot only will I not write in Bob Robbins, I will actively oppose his campaign.
Yes. I received the same card in the mail. A waste of a stamp for certain!
ReplyDeleteIt shows a level of panic in the Robbins campaign that is very telling. The mailing should annoy Democrats and it should infuriate Republicans. Good move.
Jason, if you are looking for a way to actively oppose Robbins, I have a number of specific suggestions. Contact me as we could make a great and dangerous team.